Process and mechanism for separat



Dec. 12,1933. r a. PEALE Re. 19,021

PROCESS AND MECHANISM FOR SEPARA'IING INTERMIXED DIVIDED MATERIALSOriginal Filed May'2, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l R. PEALE 19,021 PROCESS ANDMECHANISM FOR SEPARATING INTER MIXED DIVIDED MATERIALS Dec. 12, 1933.

Original Filed May 2, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 12, 1933.

R. PEALE PROCESS AND MECHANISM FOR SEPA RATING INTERMIXED DIVIDEDMATERIALS Original Filed May 2, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 12, 1933.

R. PEALE 19,021

PROCESS AND MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING INTERMIXED DIVIDED MATERIALSOriginal Filed May 2, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WW W Reissued Dec. 12 1933UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESS AND MECHANISM FOR SEPARAT- INGINTERMIXED DIVIDED MATERIALS Richard Peale, St. Benedict, Pa., assignor,by mesne assignments, to Peale-Davis Company, Wilmington, Del., acorporation of Delaware Original No. 1,832,048, dated November 1'7,1931, Serial No. 274,446, May 2, 1928. Application for reissue July 23,1932. Serial No. 624,160

23 Claims. (01'. 209469) The invention relates to a process andmechanism for separating intermixed divided materials wherein theparticles vary relatively very greatly in size, but vary relativelylittle in their specific I gravities, and more particularly to such aprocess and mechanism wherein separation of the material is efiectedapproximately completely as regards the free impurities.

Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in parthereinafter, and in part are obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypracticing the invention; the same being realized and attained throughthe processes and instrumentalities pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists of the novel steps, processes, parts,combinations, constructions, arrangements and improvements hereindisclosed.

The accompanying drawings, herein referred to and constituting a parthereof, illustrate a mechanism embodying the invention, and exemplifyingthe practicing of the process included in said invention; said drawings,together with the description, serving to illustrate the prin ciples ofthe invention and to exemplify the practical application thereof.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan, on an enlarged scale, corresponding to Fig. 1 withthe left-hand end omitted;

Fig. 3 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section taken on the line 33of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a full horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 44of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a full transverse, vertical section, taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detailed fragmentary horizontal section, on an enlargedscale. taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged, vertical section, corresponding'to theupper right-hand part of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section of the forward end ofthe table, shown at the upper right-hand part of Fig. 3, and illustratesa modified structure;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; v

Fig. 10 is a vertical, longitudinal, fragmentary section correspondingto a part of Fig. '7 and showing a modification of the mechanism; and

Fig. 11 is a full top plan corresponding to Fig. 10.

The invention is directed primarily to the practically completeseparation, according to commercial standards of intermixed divided orpulverulent materials, the parts or particles of which vary relativelyvery greatly in size while the materials vary very little in theirspecific gravities. An example of the kinds of materials cleaned is runof the mine bituminous coal, which is thoroughly cleaned withoutpreliminary sizing, and solely by running the material as it comes fromthe mine, that is, fragments from, substantially 3 inches in size to thefinest dust over a single cleaning table. The run of mine coal isintermixed with impurities including bony, rock, slate, sulphur andother materials, and the substantially perfect or complete separation ofthese impurities from the coal, especially in the dust and very smallsizes, is exceedingly difiicult.

The term divided materials refers broadly to any particulate,comminuted, pulverulent, granular or likematerial of the kind described.The terms lighter and heavier materials are used for the sake of brevityas applied to materials of relatively greater or less specificgravities.

The cleaning of intermixed materials of the kinds indicated, such as therun of mine bituminous coal referred to, is very difierent' from, andmuch more diflicult than, the separation or concentration of ores, suchas ores of the precious metals. In the separation or concentration ofores, the entire mass of material is very finely pulverized, and therebyreduced to practically a uniform size, and the gangue on the one handand the precious metals on the other hand vary very greatly in theirrelative specific gravities. In cleaning run of the mine coal, with thewide variation in sizes of the particles, and with the relatively closespecific gravities of the different materials, and espe cially in viewof the adherence of different materials (such as coal and bony) insingle pieces, entirely different treatment of the materials isnecessary to effect commercially complete separation; and the problem ofseparation is much more difficult.

- The invention provides a process and means whereby the usualpreliminary sizing, (that is, separation or gradation of the materialsinto a large number of sizes by screening), and the subsequentseparation or cleaning of the various sizes upon'a corresponding numberof small separating tables, is obviated. It is usually customary to sizethe finer materials by differences of one-eighthor by one-quarter inchin dimensions, the dimensional variation of the sizing increasingupwardly. By this former system it is quite usual to have perhaps tenscreens and ten cleaning tables to completely clean all sizes ofordinary run of the mine coal. By my invention, there is no preliminaryscreening and sizing, and the complete cleaning of the coal is effectedby the use of a single table, the coal from the mine being fed to rearend of the table, and the clean coal being discharged from the forwardpart of the table into the railway cars. My invention includes broadlythe separation of lighter and heavier materials, that is, the coal fromall impurities, by feeding to the rear end of an air-pervious,longitudinally reciprocated table, the intermixed materials, inregulated quantity, so that a bed of thematerials of substantialthickness is maintained on all parts of the table, the bed graduallymoving forwardly, meanwhile being progressively stratified horizontally,the clean coal forming a superior stratum, and the impurities settlingby gravity upon the air-pervious table. The settled impurities, whileresting upon the table, are then forwarded by friction and inertia, andare gradually concentrated into a stream and discharged, preferably atthe forward end of the table. The superior'stratum of clean coal isdischarged preferably laterally at either side forwardly of the table.

My invention is further and more particularly directed to effecting afinal and ultimate separating action, designed to substantiallycompletely separate the extreme fines of the coal fromthe extreme finesof the impurities.- With this object in view I subject the separatedstream of impurities to a further separating action, and do thispreferably during the discharging movement of said stream. This iseffected primarily by directing through the stream of impurities, forthe full width thereof, a relatively thin blast of air, thereby toremove any possible residuum of the coal. According to an additionalfeature of the invention, I subject the fines removed from the stream ofimpurities by the blast of airto a still further separating operation,preferably by passing same over a small supplementary air-pervious deck.With certain kinds and conditions of material, this final separatingaction will not be necessary, but with other kinds and conditions ofmaterial, as for example highly bituminous coking coals, this finalseparation will be found useful in approaching the maximum of thetheoretical washability j curve of the particular coal.

. It will be understood that the foregoing gen, eral statement oftheinvention and the following detailed description as well, areexplanatory and exemplary of the invention, but are not restrictivethereof.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustratedby way of example in the accompanying drawings, an air-pervious table 1is provided,-which may be of a uniform degree ofperviosity throughoutits entire area, or which may be zoned or gradated as may be founddesirable and efficient, preferablyv with the air perviosity decreasingforwardly and possibly also outwardly of the table. As, embodied,

the rear portion of the. table 1 is relatively wide, and preferably ofrectangular form, preferably for a fairly large proportion of the lengthof the table. The forward'portion narrows gradually from said wideportion forwardly to the 'front end, which end is preferably r'elaintermixed materials is maintained upon the table undergoing horizontalstratification and separation. Bed retaining walls are thereforeprovided about the rear end of the table, and accordingly the table isprovided at the back end with a retaining wall 2, and also with sidebed-retaining walls 3 and 4, at either side, which walls extend from theback wall 1 forwardly to the end of the full width of the table, asclearly shown in' Fig. 2.' The surface of the table is preferablyprovided with a plurality of separating partitions 6, which may varyboth as to height and arrangement, but are shown arranged parallelly andlongitudinally of the rear part of the table, and convergingly from 'thepoint at which the table begins to narrow 19 upon frame members 20,which latter aremounted on the upper part of the side walls of astationary air-chamber 21. There is a flexible air seal provided betweenthe reciproca'ble air pervious table 1 and the stationary air-chamber21,- and for this purpose they are connected throughout by a seal 22 ofcanvas or other flexible L material, which maintains the airtightchamber while permitting the reciprocation of the table.

The illustrated form of means for recipr0cating the table on the arms 18comprises a connecting rod 25, pivotally connected'at 26 to the its rearend of the table, which rod at the other end is connected to'aneccentric 2'7, fixed on a shaft 28, journalled in supports 29, mountedupon the air-conduit. The shaft 28' may be driven in any suitablemanner, and is preferably provided with any standard form of variablespeed drive. The

stroke of the table is short and quick, and is preferably, forwardly andupwardly and downwardly and backwardly.

Means are provided forfeeding the intermixed materials to the rear endof the air-pervious deck a bodied form, a hopper 33 is provided,discharging by a chute 34 onto the rear end of the table 1 andpreferably substantially entirely thereacross. The embodiedffeedingdevice 35 has a horizontal shaft'Bfi, journaled in the hopperwalls, upon which shaft are fixed a plurality of blades 3'7, which, bytheir rotation, regulate the discharge of the intermixed materials fromthe hopper 33. The device 35 is driven by any suitable means,. butpreferably by some form of variable speed drive;

In the operation of the table, the air currents forced up through theair-perviousdeck primarily' separate or loosen apart the particles ofthe intermixed materials, and facilitate the settling of particles ofthe heavier material by gravity bed progresseslongitudinally of thetable. The I settled heavier materials are progressed forward- 1y alongthe table by friction'and inertia due to the reciprocation of the tablewhile thelighter material progresses in a flotant air-buoyed stratum. Inthe rear part of the table the longitudinally disposed separatingpartitions direct the settled heavier material forwardly, and in theforward part of the table, where they converge forwardly they serve todirect the settled and progressing heaviermaterial into a concentratedstream, and also participate in and insure the substantial completion ofthe separating action. The further process of ultimate separationapplied by my present invention to the fines as a subsequent orsupplemental operation, as hereinafter described, may be applied to orassociated with other processes or mechanisms than those hereindescribed for eifecting the initialor main separation.

The superior stratum of clean coal begins to be discharged laterallyfrom the table from about the point where the table begins to narrow,and the discharge continues practically to the forward end of the table,as will be clear from Figs. 1 and 2. There is provided at the twospillage edges for the coal vertical walls 40 and 41, respectively,which may be of any height especially adapted for the particular kind ofcoal upon which a table may be operating so that the upper edge of thespillage Wall will be at the level of the bottom of the stratum of cleancoal. These spillage walls preferably increase in'height toward theforward end of the table, as will be seen from Figs. 3 and 7.Controlling means for the height of the bed at the front of the tableand for the rate of discharge of the heavier material are likewisepreferably provided, as will be later described and as shown in Fig. 8of the drawings.

The embodied form of means for forcing the air current through the bedof 'ma'terials upon the table 1 comprises any suitable source, such as'arotary fan 51, the from; which is delivered through a conduit 52 to theair chamberZl beneath the table. As embodied, the air chamber has amedianly-positioned, horizontally-disposed deck 53, which forms an upperair chamber 50 beneath substantially the entire extent of theair-pervious deck Land-a lower air chamber 49. In accordance withcertain features of the invention, I preferably employ a pulsating aircurrent, although this is not essential so far as concerns otherfeatures of my invention. The embodied form of means for creating thepulsating air current comprises rotary butterfly valve 55 extendingacross the entrance end of the upper part of the stationary air chamber,this valve being fixed upon a horizontallydisposed shaft 56, journaledin the walls of the air chamber. This shaft is driven by any suitablemeans, and at any desired speed, and preferably in -a predeterminedsynchronous relation with the period of reciprocation of the table, Asillustrated, the shaft is provided with a pulley 57, and a belt 58,

but the driving means may be of any desired form for effecting thestated functions. Means are also provided for regulating the intensityof the air current directed to the air-pervious deck 1, and for thispurpose a rearwardly -pointing, horizontally-disposed vane or deflectingplate 61 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 62 at the rear end of the airchamber partition floor .13. The shaft 62 is journaled in the side wallsof the air chamber, and is provided on the exterior thereof with anactuating arm 64, and any kind of locking device'65, wherebytheinclination of thedeflecting plate'fi l may be varied and controlled.By my invention, I provide fora further ultimate separation of anyslight residuum of inter-,

mixture of materials. In certain kinds of coal the percentage ofimpurities in the finesi or smaller particles is relatively very high,and the practically complete separation thereof is very difficult. Theadditional separative operation is directed in part to thefirstdescribed pur-- pose and in part to insure the separation of anyresiduum. of coal from the concentrated stream of impurities. fines thetable may be so adjusted or tuned that the still impure or questionablefines can be op-' In applying the invention to the tionally dischargedfrom the main table with the stream of impurities and can thus besubjected to the further separation.

Referring now to the embodied form of means for acting ,upcntheconcentrated stream-of impurities so as to remove therefrom any residuumof coal, an air passage '71 is provided at the forward end of the table,the passage being so located and shaped as to discharge ayrelatively'disposed partition floor 75, which is preferably provided at its rearend with an air current regulating vane 76, pivotally mounted on ahorizontally-disposed shaft 77, mounted on the rear end fof thehorizontal partition 75. The shaft 77 is journaled in the side walls ofthe stationary air chamber and exteriorly thereof is provided with apositioning arm '79, which cooperates with suitable holding means 80,and thereby the force of the air current directed into the. chamber '74may be regulated. opening 83 between the upper chamber 50, which isbeneath the table proper and the air blast chamber {74, and this may beentirely closed or opened to any desired extent by a sliding shutter 84,provided with a rack and pinion adjusting means 85, having an actuatingcrank 86 on the exterior of the air chamber. Y

The regulation of both the size and intensity of the air blast pasage 71is an exceedingly important feature of my invention, and preferably aplurality of devices for regulating the thickness or thinness of thesheet-like air blast, as well as the intensity thereof are provided. Thevane 75 effects this result in so far as concerns the intensity. Furthermeans for controlling the intensity of this air blast, however, may beprovided if desircdfand as embodied a shutter valve 91 is mounted on thevertical front wall 92 of the chamber '14, andis adapted to be moved toand'fro to open and close the air to be moved to and fro across thethroat of the If desired, there may be an i.

For the purpose of anism, such as bolt and slot devices 99.

' Means are provided forreceiving the coal. or other lighter materialdislodged by the air blast from the stream of impurities, and saidreceiving means is preferablymovable tov and from the stream ofimpurities, and by such positional regulation to catch and therebyseparate all of the .coal separatedby the air blast while permitting anyseparated finer particles of impurities to-fall back and to bedischarged with the stream of impurities. In the embodied form of saidmeans illustrated in Figs. 1 m7, a chute 105 is mounted on the forwardend' of the reciprocable' table forward discharge end of the table 1.

charge of the impurities.

frame, and this maybe inclined at any degree .desired. To further effectand insure a clean separation, the rear end 106 of the chute 105 ispivotally mounted upon the chute at 107, and a bolt and slot connection108 at either side: serves to hold the part 106 at any desiredangle,.and therefore at:any desired level with respect to the To furthereffect the described function, if desired, the rear end of the'ibottomof 'the'pivoted portion 1060f the chute may be provided with a slidableplate 111, having a boltrand slot'connecti'on 112 with the floor of thechute 106. This plate 111 may be moved to and fro, to conform to theseparating line between the'separated coal and the stream of impurities,and between the'separated coal and any dislodged impurities. Either thepivoted 'chute 106, .or-the sliding plate-111 may be used without theother, if desired.

The further discharge means for the impurities maybe of any desiredIOIIIL'SO far as concerns most features'of the'invention. As embodied,however, a receptacle 123 is provided in the forward stationary part ofthe structure, and

. this is provided preferably at the forward discharge endthereof with apivoted gate'124, which may be weighted as desired to regulate the dis-The bottom of this chamber may be air-pervious if desired, as shown at125, and a shutter 126 may be provided for shutting oil the air current,if desired; Air is supplied'tothe pervious floor 125 through a pas sage127, communicating with the main air chamber, as best showninFig. 3. Anair controlling shutter valve 128 is preferably provided for the it maybe desirable to apply an extra separating action to such fines. UWhere'this is necessary or desirable, these fines can beoptionallydirected. into the stream of impurities by the tuning of the table andthe cross air blast may be so regulated both as to its intensity andarea of impact on the stream of impurities so as to remove'these impurefines for further treatment. This constitutes an optionally useables'eparationprocess for certain kinds of dirty coal or the like.Accordingly additional means are likewise provided by my invention foreffecting said optionally useable further separation.

In accordance with one feature of my invention, I optionally provide afurther air table separating action which may be employed as may bedesired or necessary'for certain kinds or conditions, of materials, suchas still dirty fines which mig'htbe removed from the stream ofimpurities by the air blast-either; from the nature of the materials, orthe 'intentional adjustment of the machine.v An exemplary embodimentthereof is shown in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings. form the floor 137of the chute 105 is air-pervious, though usually to a relatively-lessdegree than the main table, and underneath the air-pervious floor 137 isan air chamber 138. The air chamber chamber, through anopening 140, bymeans of a. pipe 139, having a flexible and extensible portion 143. Ifit is desired to make the table 137 variably inclinable, this can bedone by pivotally mounting it on a rod 141, mounted cross-wise near thefront end of extensions 1440f the vibratable frame of the table. Boltand slot connections 145 are provided between a side wall of table 137and one ofthe frame pieces 144. The table 137 is shown provided with aplurality of separating partitions 147 forwardly and transverselydisposed, although thesemay be arranged as desired. The separated settleupon the table 127 are directed to a channel 149, and into a passage150, which may be pro vided with a pivoted and-weightedga'te 151, anddischarged by a chute'154 into the-rock conveyor. The separated finesof: the coal are discharged over the spillage. edge 152, and aredirected backward-through a chute 153, to the conveying means for thecoal discharged from the table 1.

ing the height or thickness of the bed at the forward end of the maintable, and of the concentrated. stream of impurities discharged from thefront end of the table, and such a device is shown in Fig. 8 of thedrawings. For this purpose a In this -.138 communicates with the frontend of the air impurities which r If desired, means may be provided forregulattransverse "slide'157 is mounted across the :front 1 :the tableby any'suitable means, such as pins 160, l

and thereby regulates the rate of dischargeof the stream of impuritiesfrom the front of the table.

The spillage walls 40 and 41 may also be made variable in height ifdesired, and an embodiment of this feature is illustrated in Figs, '8and 9. Therein the spillage walls have respectively, an outer: member163, which is connectedwith the spillage wall proper by a plurality ofbolt and slotv closure without departing from the principles of theinvention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

' What I claim is I 1. A mechanism for separating intermixed di videdmaterials which vary relativelyfgreatly in size but vary relativelylittle in their specific gravities including in combination anair-pervious table, means for feeding to the rear of, and main tainingupon the table a bed of materials of substantial thickness, means forgradually moving forwardly and progressively separating the materials ofthe bed into horizontal strata including devices for forcing an aircurrent through the bed and for longitudinally reciprocating the bed,co-

operating devices for concentrating a separated and settled heaviermaterial into a stream, discharging the stream of heavier material fromthe table and means for directing a blast of air through the unsupporteddischarging stream to separate therefrom any residuum of lightermaterial.

2. A mechanism for separating intermixed divided materials which varyrelatively greatly in size but vary relatively little in their specificgravities including in combination an air-pervious table, means forfeeding to the rear of, and main-' taining upon the table a bed ofmaterials of substantial thickness, means for gradually moving forwardlyand progressively separating the materials of the bed into horizontalstrata including devices for forcing an air current through the bed andfor longitudinally reciprocating the bed, cooperating devices forconcentrating a separated and settled heavier material into a stream,devices for laterally discharging a superior stratumof lighter material,and for discharging the stream from the front end of; the table, and-means-for directing a blast of air across and through the entire widthof said concentrated stream of heavier material to separate therefromany residuum of lighter material,

'3. A mechanism for separating intermixed divided materials which varyrelatively greatly in size but vary relatively little in their specificgrav ities which comprises means for separating the materials, means fordischarging a heavier material in a substantiallyhorizontal,concentrated,

stream, means for blowinga blast of air upwardly through said stream toseparate therefrom any residuum of a lighter material.

4.- A mechanism for-separating intermixed divided materials which varyrelatively greatly in size but vary relatively little in their specificgravities which comprises a vibratable, air-per-- vious table forseparating the materials, means for discharging a heavier material in aconcen-' trated stream, means for blowing a blast of air through saidstream to separate therefrom any residiuum of a lighter material, andmeans for receiving and further separating said separated part includinga pervious table and means for forcing-an air current therethrough. I

s 5. A mechanism for separating intermixed divided materials which varyrelatively greatly in size but vary relatively little in their specificgravities which comprises means for separating the materials, means fordischarging a heavier material in a concentrated stream, means forblowing a blast of air through said stream to separate therefrom anyresiduum of a lighter material, means comprising a vibratable,air-pervious table for receiving and furtherseparating said ing saidreceiving means with respect to said stream of heavier material. v v

6. The process of separating intermixed divided materials which varyrelatively greatly in size but .vary relatively. little in theirspecific gravities which comprises subjecting a bed of the horizontallymoving and unsupported stream of separated part, and devices forvariably position- I a lifting air blast to separate therefrom anyresiduum of a lighter material. 7 v v '7. The process of separatingintermixed divided materials which'vary relatively greatly in size butvary relatively little in their specific gravities which comprisessubjecting a bed of theinter mixed materials, supported on anair-pervious support, tame stratifying and separating action of liftingair currents and mechanical vibration, discharging the lighter materialas asuperior flotant stratum, progressing the settled heavier materialtransversely beneath said fiotant' stratum to discharge, impelling theseparated heavier material substantially horizontally from the support,directing an air blast upwardly through the heavier material to overcomethe action of gravity on any residuum or lighter material therein andthereby permitting said lighter material to continue its horizontalmovement, While the heavier material falls against said upward. blast,and separately collecting the separated lighter residuum. n V p 8. Theprocess of separating intermixed divided'materials which vary relativelygreatly in size but vary relatively little in their specific gravitieswhich comprises subjecting a bed of the intermixed materials, supportedon-an air-pervious support'to the stratifying and separating action oflifting air currentaand mechanical vibration, discharging the lightermaterial as a superior flotan-t stratum prQgressing the settled heaviermaterial transversely beneath said fiotant stra tumto discharge,impelling the separated heavier material substantially horizontally fromthe support, directing an airbla'st upwardly through the horizontallymoving and unsupported stream'of heavier material to overcome the actionof gravi ty on any residuum of lighter material therein and therebypermitting saidlighte'r material to 11-5 continue its horizontalmovement, while the heaviermateri'al falls" against said upward blast,

and separately collecting the separated lighter residuum and controllingthe action of the air blast toavoid concurrent separation of the heavier material. I

9. The process of separating intermixed divided materials which varyrelatively greatly" in size but vary relatively little in their specificgr'avities which comprises subjecting a' bed of the intermixedmaterials, supported on an air-per, vioussupport, to the stratifying andseparating action of lifting air currents and mechanical vibration,discharging the lighter material as a superior fiotant stratum,progressing the settled 1'31) heavier material transverselybe'ne'a'thsaid' flotant stratum todischarge, intermittently impellingthe separated heavier material from the support and subjecting themoving and unsupported heavier material to a lifting air blast toseparate therefrom any residuum of a' lighter material.

' 10. The process of separatingintermixed divided' materials which varyrelatively greatlyin. size but vary" relatively little'in their specificgravities which" comprisessubjecting a bed of the" intermixed materials,supported on an'. air-pervious support, to the stratifying andseparating" action of lifting air currents and mechanical vibration,discharging the lighter material as a superior fiotant stratum,progressing the settled hea'viefr material transversely beneath saidflotant are turrfto discharge, intermittently imp telling the separatedheavier material" substantially horizont'ally froni the's'u'pport,directing an air blast upwardly through the horizontally moving and comethe action of, gravity on any residuum of lighter material therein andthereby permitting said lighter jmaterial to' continue its horizontalmovement, whilefthe heavier, material falls against said upward blast,and separately collecting the separated lighter residuum., ,11. Theprocess of separating intermixeddivided materials which vary relativelygreatly-in size but vary relatively little in--their specific gravi tieswhich comprises separatingthe intermixed materials by the actio'noflifting air currents and mechanical vibration, thereafter subj ecting anI unsupportedstream of heavierseparated -material to a blast of air toremove residuallig'hter particles therefrom, and'subjecting saidlighterparticles to a further separating, action.

'12. The process of separating intermixed divided materials which varyrelatively greatlyin size but vary relatively little in-their specificgravities which comprises separating'the intermixed materialsdischarging a heavier, separated material from a support, and thereaftersubjecting said unsupported and moving heavier material to a blast ofair to separate a residuum, of fine particles therefrom and subjectingsaidseparated fine particles to a further'separatingactiorn I '13. Theprocess of separating intermixeddivided'm'aterials which varyrelativelygreatly in size but vary relatively littl'ein their specific gravities'which comprises separatingthe intermixed materials, discharging aheavier separated material 'from a support and thereafter subjectingsaid unsupported and moving heavier material tofa'blast of air toseparate'a residuum of fine particles therefrom, andj subjectingsaid'separated fine particles to a further separating action includinglifting air currents "arid mechanical vibration. H x 14'. A mechanismfor separating intermixed divided materials varying relatively greatlyin size and relatively little in their specific gravities including incombinationtwo reciprocable airpervioustables separatedby'a relativelynarrow air gap, means for effecting a primary and major separation ofthe materials on the first table, means for impellirrg a separatedstratum ,of material across the air gap, means for subjectingsaidunsupported stratum toan upwardly directed air blast to blow out,and' sustain light and fineparticles thereof while'permitting large andheavy particles to fall through the gap, and

means for subjecting the separated'fine particles to a secondaryseparating 'actiononthe second table.

- 15. A mechanism for separating intermixed 1 divided materials varyingrelatively"greatly in 7 size and relatively little in their specificgravities including in combination 1 two reciprocable airpervio'ustables separated .by a relatively narrow .air gap, means for effecting aprimary and major separationof' the materials on the first table,

, means for impelling a separated stratum of materialacross the air gap,means for subjecting said unsupported stratum to an; upwardly direct edair blast to blow out and sustain light and fine particles thereofwhilejpermitting large and heavy, particles to" fall through the gap,and

means for subjectingthe separated fine particles to a secondaryseparating action onthe second table and means for separatelydischarging the heavier material which falls through the gap.

165A mechanism for separating intermixed divided materials which varyrelatively greatly in size but vary relatively little in theirgs'pecificsating air currentstherethrough, for separating the materials bypneumatic stratification into superposed strata, means for dischargingsettled heaviermaterial from the supportin a substantially horizontal,concentrated stream, means for blowing a blast of air upwardly throughsaid stream to separate therefrom any residuum of. a lighter material,and means beyond the edge of the support for receiving lighter materialsus: tained by the blast of air.. y 1 J 'l8. A mechanism forseparatingintermixed divided 'materials which vary relatively greatly insize but vary relatively little in their specific gravities whichcomprises means for separating the materials, means for discharging aheavier material in a substantially horizontal, concen trated stream,-means for blowing a pulsating blast of air upwardly through saidstream, and substantially entirely across the front of the table, toseparateftherefromany residuum of a' lighter material. x 1

19. A mechanism for separating intermixed divided materials which varyrelatively greatly in size but vary relatively little in their specificgravities which comprises means, including an air-pervious support anddevices for passing pulsatingair currents therethrough, for separatingthe materials by pneumatic stratification intosuperposed strata, meansfor discharging settled heavier material from the supportin a substan- Itially horizontal, concentrated stream, means below the discharge edgeof the support for receiving the heavier material, meansfor blowing ablast of air upwardly through saidfalling stream of heavier material tosupport and to separate therefrom any residuum of a lighter material,and means beyond the edge of the support for receivinglighter materialprevented from falling with said heavy material by the blast of air.

20. A mechanism for separating intermixed divided. materials which varyrelatively greatly in size, but vary relatively little in -their;specific gravities. which comprises means for separating the materials,means for. discharging the heavier material in a substantiallyhorizontal concentrated stream, means for blowing a blastof air upwardlythrough said stream to separate therefrom any residuum of a lightermaterial, and

means for further treating atleast a partfof the refuse includinganair-pervious deckand means for passing pulsating airupwardlytherethrou'gh. -21. A mechanism for separating intermixed dividedmaterials which vary relatively greatly in size, but vary relativelylittle' in their specific gravities which comprises means for separatingthe materials,lmeans'for discharging the heavier material in .asubstantially horizontal concen- ,means for further treating at least apart of said heavier material including a downwardly and forwardlyinclined .air-perviollSJdBGk and coal and to cause it to pass forwardlyonto said support.

23. A coal purifying mechanism including in combination a relativelylong and narrow airpervious deck, means for progressing along said deckand stratifying thereon a bed of raw coal of substantial thickness,including devices for passing pulsating air currents upwardly throughsaid bed, a forwardly ancldownwardly inclined coal support forwardly ofthe deck, the settled refuse being discharged downwardly between saiddeck and support, and means for projecting an air current upwardlythrough the discharging refuse to prevent the discharge of coal and tocauseit to pass forwardly onto said support.

RICHARD PEALE.

